5 things you might not know about Millennial job seekers

A new survey from CareerBuilder and Inavero sheds light on the perceptions and habits of Millennials. Results from the 2012 Candidate Behavior Study indicate that Millennials -- also known as Generation Y -- are always up for the next new challenge and wouldn't say no to a change of scenery.

Here are five lessons from the survey of 1,291 workers nationwide:

1.Millennials are almost always game for the next opportunity. According to the survey, 81 percent of Millennials are either actively searching for new jobs or are open to new opportunities, regardless of their current employment status.What this means for employers: Millennials' "always on" job-search mentality highlights the need for employers to engage them on a continual basis, provide reasons why their company is a great place to work and define their employment brand. That way, job seekers who are casually browsing opportunities will keep those companies at the top of their mind.

2. Millennials' job-search process is long and complex. Millennials report that their job search takes 28 weeks, on average, throughout which time they may consult up to 15 resources.What this means for employers: "Given the considerable amount of time Millennials take looking at them, employers need to begin building relationships with candidates far before they walk in their doors," says Kassandra Barnes, research and content manager at CareerBuilder.

3. Millennials are very social and vocal about their job-search experiences. Ninety-six percent of Millennials discuss their job-search experience with others, both in person and through social media.What this means for employers: Millennials' sharing nature can be good or bad for a company, depending on their job-search and application experience. Employers need to provide positive experiences for candidates -- especially since a negative job-search experience can hurt the bottom line.

4. Millennials are open to relocation. According to the survey, 82 percent of Millennials are willing to relocate for the right position.What this means for employers: Employers are often quick to write off applicants who aren't local, but this finding suggests that they should give these job seekers a second glance.

5. Millennials are still in search of their dream job. Only 22 percent of Millennial workers strongly agree that they are satisfied in their careers, and the average length of time they stay in a job is three years.What this means for employers: "Employers should be more forgiving of job-hopping Millenials," Barnes says. Employers may perceive job-hopping as a negative quality, when the digital-age shift has caused job-hopping to be the rule, rather than the exception, Barnes explains. Since so few Millennials are satisfied in their current position, employers should consider engaging this group of job seekers by sharing desirable company benefits , such as advancement opportunities, a great corporate culture and a flexible work environment.

Mary Lorenz writes for The Hiring Site, CareerBuilder.com's community for hiring professionals and other curious-minded individuals to discuss the attraction, engagement and retention of their #1 asset -- their people.